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| Daniel Inouye, who has died aged 88, was the longest-serving member of the US Senate and had the second longest tenure to date, after Robert Byrd of West Virginia, whom he succeeded as president pro tempore of the Senate. Inouye had represented Hawaii in Congress since 1959, from the moment the former territory achieved statehood. | Daniel Inouye, who has died aged 88, was the longest-serving member of the US Senate and had the second longest tenure to date, after Robert Byrd of West Virginia, whom he succeeded as president pro tempore of the Senate. Inouye had represented Hawaii in Congress since 1959, from the moment the former territory achieved statehood. |
| A trailblazer, he was the first Japanese American to serve in the Senate and, despite working quietly and keeping a low profile throughout most of his career, caught the public eye for his steely determination during investigations into two major government scandals. At the Watergate hearings in 1973, his aside about President Richard Nixon's aide John Ehrlichman – "What a liar" – was famously caught by a microphone he had believed to be off. Ehrlichman's lawyer, John Wilson, later called Inouye a "little Jap", prompting a groundswell of support for the Senator. | A trailblazer, he was the first Japanese American to serve in the Senate and, despite working quietly and keeping a low profile throughout most of his career, caught the public eye for his steely determination during investigations into two major government scandals. At the Watergate hearings in 1973, his aside about President Richard Nixon's aide John Ehrlichman – "What a liar" – was famously caught by a microphone he had believed to be off. Ehrlichman's lawyer, John Wilson, later called Inouye a "little Jap", prompting a groundswell of support for the Senator. |
| He seemed the personification of a quest for simple truth when in 1987 he chaired the hearings on Ronald Reagan's Iran-Contra scandal, in heated exchanges with the lawyer for Reagan's aide Oliver North, who had testified that military secrets were not safe with Congress. Inouye, a decorated second world war hero who had lost an arm fighting in Europe, called it "painful" to listen to North, who had arrived bedecked with ribbons on his dress uniform. | He seemed the personification of a quest for simple truth when in 1987 he chaired the hearings on Ronald Reagan's Iran-Contra scandal, in heated exchanges with the lawyer for Reagan's aide Oliver North, who had testified that military secrets were not safe with Congress. Inouye, a decorated second world war hero who had lost an arm fighting in Europe, called it "painful" to listen to North, who had arrived bedecked with ribbons on his dress uniform. |
| Inouye was born in Honululu, a "Nisei" (second generation Japanese American), whose father had been born in Japan, as had his mother's parents. After graduating from McKinley high school, Honululu, he was studying medicine at the University of Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, and he served as a medical volunteer helping deal with the casualties. He left his studies to join the US army as soon as the ban on Japanese Americans enlisting was lifted. Although there was no internment in Hawaii, Inouye was later asked why he had volunteered, when Japanese on the mainland were being held in camps, and he answered simply: "I did it for my children." | Inouye was born in Honululu, a "Nisei" (second generation Japanese American), whose father had been born in Japan, as had his mother's parents. After graduating from McKinley high school, Honululu, he was studying medicine at the University of Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, and he served as a medical volunteer helping deal with the casualties. He left his studies to join the US army as soon as the ban on Japanese Americans enlisting was lifted. Although there was no internment in Hawaii, Inouye was later asked why he had volunteered, when Japanese on the mainland were being held in camps, and he answered simply: "I did it for my children." |
| He served with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team (composed mostly of Japanese Americans), winning promotion to sergeant and then a field commission as a lieutenant. In the "Lost Battalion" battle in the Vosges mountains, France, he was hit by a bullet which was stopped by two silver dollars he carried in his pocket. But he had lost his lucky charms just before an assault on Colle Musatello, in the Po Valley, Italy, in April 1945. Despite being wounded, he took out the first of three German machine-gun positions pinning down his platoon. He led an attack on the second, before collapsing. Then, as his unit attacked the third, he crawled into position to throw a grenade. As he stood to throw, a German rifle grenade severed his arm, leaving the grenade in the fist. Keeping his troops at a distance, he prised the grenade out, threw it, and finished the attack one-handed. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. | He served with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team (composed mostly of Japanese Americans), winning promotion to sergeant and then a field commission as a lieutenant. In the "Lost Battalion" battle in the Vosges mountains, France, he was hit by a bullet which was stopped by two silver dollars he carried in his pocket. But he had lost his lucky charms just before an assault on Colle Musatello, in the Po Valley, Italy, in April 1945. Despite being wounded, he took out the first of three German machine-gun positions pinning down his platoon. He led an attack on the second, before collapsing. Then, as his unit attacked the third, he crawled into position to throw a grenade. As he stood to throw, a German rifle grenade severed his arm, leaving the grenade in the fist. Keeping his troops at a distance, he prised the grenade out, threw it, and finished the attack one-handed. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. |
| The 442nd was thought to be the most decorated regiment in the US army, but racial prejudices often influenced the awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor. In 2000, after years of campaigning by others, Inouye and 21 other Nisei veterans were presented with the nation's highest military award in a special ceremony by President Bill Clinton. | The 442nd was thought to be the most decorated regiment in the US army, but racial prejudices often influenced the awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor. In 2000, after years of campaigning by others, Inouye and 21 other Nisei veterans were presented with the nation's highest military award in a special ceremony by President Bill Clinton. |
| After the war, Inouye returned to college, but switched his studies to political science. He graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1950, and took his law degree from George Washington University in 1953. He then served in Hawaii's territorial house and senate before winning election, in 1959, as the first Congressman from the new 50th state. He was re-elected in 1960, and elected to the Senate in 1962. In 2010 he won re-election to his ninth Senate term with 75% of the vote. | After the war, Inouye returned to college, but switched his studies to political science. He graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1950, and took his law degree from George Washington University in 1953. He then served in Hawaii's territorial house and senate before winning election, in 1959, as the first Congressman from the new 50th state. He was re-elected in 1960, and elected to the Senate in 1962. In 2010 he won re-election to his ninth Senate term with 75% of the vote. |
| In 1968, when he delivered the keynote speech at the tumultuous Democratic convention in Chicago, Inouye was being considered as Hubert Humphrey's vice-presidential candidate. Lyndon Johnson felt Inouye would help defuse the issue of the Vietnam war, telling Humphrey: "He answers Vietnam with that empty sleeve." But Inouye declined to run. | In 1968, when he delivered the keynote speech at the tumultuous Democratic convention in Chicago, Inouye was being considered as Hubert Humphrey's vice-presidential candidate. Lyndon Johnson felt Inouye would help defuse the issue of the Vietnam war, telling Humphrey: "He answers Vietnam with that empty sleeve." But Inouye declined to run. |
| Although his profile was highest on those investigative committees, Inouye's chairmanship of a number of standing committees highlighted his ability to get things done quietly, as his integrity and honesty were recognised on both sides of the Senate aisle. He headed committees on intelligence and Indian affairs. He became an honorary member of the Navajo nation, given the name "the Leader Who Has Returned With a Plan". He also chaired the commerce committee and, latterly, the powerful appropriations committee. | Although his profile was highest on those investigative committees, Inouye's chairmanship of a number of standing committees highlighted his ability to get things done quietly, as his integrity and honesty were recognised on both sides of the Senate aisle. He headed committees on intelligence and Indian affairs. He became an honorary member of the Navajo nation, given the name "the Leader Who Has Returned With a Plan". He also chaired the commerce committee and, latterly, the powerful appropriations committee. |
| Inouye's first wife, Maggie, predeceased him in 2006. He is survived by his second wife, Irene, and by his son, Kenny, a musician. When asked how he would like to be remembered, Inouye said: "I represented the people of Hawaii and this nation honestly and to the best of my ability. I think I did OK." | Inouye's first wife, Maggie, predeceased him in 2006. He is survived by his second wife, Irene, and by his son, Kenny, a musician. When asked how he would like to be remembered, Inouye said: "I represented the people of Hawaii and this nation honestly and to the best of my ability. I think I did OK." |
| • Daniel Ken Inouye, politician, born 7 September 1924; died 17 December 2012 | • Daniel Ken Inouye, politician, born 7 September 1924; died 17 December 2012 |
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